Admissions

JD Program Application Instructions

Duke University is committed to encouraging and sustaining a learning and work community that is free from prohibited discrimination and harassment. The university prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, genetic information, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, employment, or any other university program or activity. The university also makes good faith efforts to recruit, employ and promote qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. It admits qualified students to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students.


The university also does not tolerate harassment of any kind. Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are forms of sex discrimination and prohibited by the university. Duke University has designated Dr. Benjamin D. Reese, Vice-President of the Office for Institutional Equity, as the individual responsible for the coordination and administration of its nondiscrimination and harassment policies. The Office for Institutional Equity is located in Smith Warehouse, 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Bay 8, Durham, North Carolina 27708. Dr. Reese's office telephone number is (919) 684-8222 and his email address is ben.reese@duke.edu.

Questions or comments about harassment or discrimination can be directed to the Office for Institutional Equity, (919) 684‐8222. Additional information, including the complete text of the harassment policy and appropriate complaint procedures, may be found by contacting the Office for Institutional Equity or visiting its website at: http://www.duke.edu/web/equity/.
For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, you can contact the appropriate federal office by visiting the website: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1 (800) 421-3481.

2012 Application

The following instructions are for the JD application to the 2012 entering class. The JD application is also used to apply for all dual-degree summer and fall entering programs, except the JD/MBA. Candidates for the JD/MBA dual degree program should complete the separate joint application (available through LSAC) instead of the JD application.

Review the detailed instructions as you complete the application. (Available below and in the LSAC application.)

Application Checklist

The following items are required. You will be notified by email once your application has been received. The email notification will also include instructions on how to check your file status online. Required items should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than March 15. Applications that are missing required material on March 15 will be reviewed and final decisions will be rendered based on the information that exists in the file at that time.

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Application Fee

The application processing fee is $70. A credit or debit card payment submitted with the electronic application is required. The application fee is non-refundable.

Automatic fee waivers: If you received a waiver of the fees associated with taking the LSAT, your application fee will be waived automatically when you go to checkout and submit the application.

Need-based fee waivers: Download the Fee Waiver Form, submit the completed form in its original format by email (admissions@law.duke.edu). Fee waivers are granted one-time-only. If you were granted a fee waiver for a previous application, you would not be eligible. We will be unable to consider requests received after February 15, 2012. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible. A decision on your need-based fee waiver request must be received prior to submitting the application electronically, so plan ahead. If you submit the application prior to receiving a decision, the request will be denied. Notification will be provided by email.

We also extend merit-based fee waivers based on the results of periodic searches of the LSAC's Candidate Referral Service. To be considered in the pool that we are searching, be sure your CRS account is active, your intended enrollment year is set correctly, and that you have either a self-reported or LSAC-calculated GPA.

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Resume, Personal Statement, Optional Essays

Resume: You must submit a current resume with your application. Please include your significant work experience, educational history, college and community activities, and honors and awards you have received. Include dates for all items listed on your resume. Please provide complete information; there is no required length and your resume may exceed one page.

Personal Statement: You will be required to submit a personal statement as an attachment. The statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and should include (1) what you think have been your significant personal experiences beyond what may be reflected in your academic transcripts and on your resume, and (2) your personal and career ambitions. There is no required length.

Optional Essays: You are welcome to supplement your personal statement with either or both of the following optional essays. (If your personal statement addresses either of these subjects, it is not necessary to provide a separate additional essay.) Optional Essay I: You may submit an essay providing additional information about why you have chosen to apply to law school in general and Duke in particular. We are interested in the factors that have prompted your interest in a legal career and the ways in which you think Duke can further that interest. Optional Essay II: You may submit an essay that describes how you will enhance the educational environment of the Law School and contribute to the diversity of the student body. Because we believe that diversity enriches the educational experience of all our students, Duke Law School seeks to admit students from a variety of academic, cultural, social, ethnic, economic, and other backgrounds. In this essay, you may tell us more about your particular life experiences with an emphasis on how the perspectives that you have acquired would contribute to the intellectual community of the Law School.

The personal statement, optional essays, and all other writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.

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Law School Admission Test

All applicants must take the LSAT no later than December 2011. LSAT scores earned prior to June 2006 will not be considered. Duke considers all LSAT scores that are submitted, in the context of the entire application (transcripts, personal statement, letters of recommendation, evidence of leadership and engagement, and other information). In the case of multiple test scores, data show that the average score is generally the most useful in predicting law school performance. However, Duke may place greater weight on a high score if the applicant provides compelling information about why that score is a better indication of his or her potential. If you feel that one or more of your test scores does not accurately reflect your ability or potential, please explain this disparity in a separate attachment.

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Letters of Recommendation and Evaluations

Required Recommendation Letters: You must submit two required recommendation letters through LSAC. The LSAC Letter of Recommendation service is included in your CAS registration and will accept generic and school specific letters. References from friends, family friends, and relatives are discouraged. Professors who have personal knowledge of your academic performance and potential should write your letters of recommendation. If you have been out of school for some time, you may substitute letters from employers or others who are well acquainted with your personal traits and intellectual potential. A signature is required on all recommendation letters, preferably on letterhead. NOTE: LSAC will not release the information contained in the CAS Report without the two required recommendation letters.

Direct Letters to Duke: Additional letters may be submitted through LSAC or mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. LSAC will accept a maximum of four letters assigned to Duke Law School. There is no maximum number of letters that may be submitted directly to Duke Law School.

LSAC Evaluations: LSAC will allow recommenders to complete online evaluation forms. You may submit these in addition to recommendation letters. Evaluations will not substitute for letters of recommendation.

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Academic Transcripts

All applicants must register with the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). CAS information is available online at www.LSAC.org. Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work must be submitted directly to the CAS.

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Foreign Transcripts

Duke Law School requires that foreign transcripts be submitted through the CAS if you received your degree from an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, or if you completed the equivalent of more than one year of undergraduate study outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your Law School Report. Log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Questions about the JD CAS can be directed to LSAC at 215-968-1001, or lsacinfo@lsac.org.

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Previous Law School Matriculation

If you attended another law school, you must include an addendum to explain the circumstances of why you did not complete the program as well as a letter from your law school indicating your dates of attendance, reason for withdrawal, and academic standing.

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Supplemental Material

If you wish to send additional material after submitting your electronic application, forward it to the Office of Admissions by postal mail or email at admissions@law.duke.edu. Include your full name and LSAC account number.

Please follow these guidelines for scans so that your message can be successfully received at Duke Law:

If your email attachment is lengthy, it may be more beneficial to submit a 1-2 page summary by email or submit the material by postal mail.

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Reapplications

To reapply, you must submit a new application and updated supporting material. Note on the application where indicated the year for which you last sought admission. You will also be required to reassign the recommendation letters through LSAC.

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Bar Admission

We recommend that you investigate the rules governing bar admission in the jurisdictions where you intend to practice. Information about bar admission requirements may be obtained by contacting the appropriate state board of bar examiners.

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International Students and Visa Applications

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens should indicate their country of citizenship in Section 2 of the application ("Demographic Information"), but do not need to take additional action at the time they apply. When admitted students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents submit their tuition deposit and admission acceptance form, they will receive information about applying for a Duke-sponsored F-1 visa. They will be required to submit copies of their passports, previous visa documents, and proof of financial support. Duke University policy states that graduate and professional students who are not in lawful immigration status will not be enrolled. For more information, please contact the admissions office.

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Application Instructions

Please read the following instructions carefully before completing your application.

1: Biographical

Complete this section in full.

2: Demographic Information

Complete this section in full.

3: Contact Information

Complete this section in full. Submit updates to your contact information directly to the Office of Admissions by email.

4: Decision Cycle

Select the decision cycle in which you would like to have your application reviewed.

Regular Decision: The deadline to apply through the regular decision cycle is February 15, 2012.

Early Decision: The Early Decision program is most appropriate for candidates who have concluded that Duke is their first-choice for law school and who do not anticipate the need to compare offers of financial aid in making a decision about where to matriculate. Candidates who apply through the Early Decision program may apply to other law schools, but may not have more than one binding Early Decision application pending simultaneously. If an Early Decision application has already been submitted to another law school, candidates may apply through Duke's Early Decision program only if and when they are released from their binding commitment at the other school. If admitted to Duke Law School, Early Decision candidates will be required to immediately withdraw their applications at other law schools, refrain from submitting new applications, and submit a $500 tuition deposit no later than ten days after the admission notification.

Round I Early Decision candidates must submit the application no later than November 4, 2011. Applications must be complete no later than November 16, 2011. Duke Law School will notify Round I Early Decision candidates about their status no later than December 31, 2011. Round II Early Decision candidates must submit the application no later than January 7, 2012 and be complete no later than January 16, 2012. Duke Law School will notify Round II Early Decision candidates about their status no later than January 31, 2012.

Some Early Decision candidates may be held for review in the regular cycle; candidates who are held for consideration in the regular cycle will no longer be bound by the terms of the Early Decision agreement. Duke Law School reserves the right to provide other law schools with the names of candidates admitted through the binding Early Decision program.

Early Decision candidates must also check the Early Decision Certification checkbox on the application.

5: Degree Program

We offer several summer-entering dual degree program options (JD/LLM, JD/MA, JD/MS, JD/PhD) that begin in May. In addition, we offer several fall-entering program options (JD, JD/MD, JD/MEM, JD/MPP, JD/MTS) that begin in August. You may apply to only one program. Admission to one program is not transferable to another. Visit our website for additional information on degree programs offered. Candidates for the JD/MBA dual degree program should complete the separate joint application (available through LSAC) instead of the JD application . Visit our website for additional information on dual degrees.

Summer-Entry Programs

Please do not apply to a summer-entry program if you will be unable to begin the program in late May. Most summer-entry dual degree programs do not require the GRE or a separate application to the graduate school. JD/MA and JD/MS applicants must submit a one to two page statement of purpose that outlines their background in the discipline and interest in the master's degree. To submit the statement of purpose, use the JD/MA-MS Statement attachment. It is primarily intended to assist the Graduate School department in reviewing the application, so it is not required to address the connection between your legal studies and master's degree studies. The JD/LLM application does not require a statement of purpose for the LLM; however, we encourage applicants to address their interest in international and comparative law, either in their personal statement or in a JD/LLM Addendum attachment.

Degree Additional Requirements
JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law None
JD/MA in Art History Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Classical Studies Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Cultural Anthropology Statement of purpose
JD/MA in East Asian Studies Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Economics Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Engineering Management GRE; Separate application to Duke Pratt School of Engineering
JD/MA in English Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Environmental Science & Policy Statement of purpose
JD/MA in History Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Humanities Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Literature Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Philosophy Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Political Science Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Psychology Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Religion Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Romance Studies Statement of purpose
JD/MA in Sociology Statement of purpose
JD/MS in Biomedical Engineering Statement of purpose
JD/MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering Statement of purpose
JD/MSc in Global Health Statement of purpose
JD/MS in Mechanical Engineering Statement of purpose
JD/PhD
(Philosophy or Political Science)		 Separate application to the Duke Graduate School


Fall-Entry Programs

If you are seeking admission to a fall-entry dual-degree program, you will also be required to submit a separate application to the appropriate Duke University graduate or professional school. Contact the graduate or professional school directly to obtain application and admission requirements.

Degree Additional Requirements
JD None
JD/MBA Do not use the JD application; Submit the separate JD/MBA electronic application
JD/MD Separate application Duke School of Medicine
JD/MEM Separate application to Duke Nicholas School of the Environment
JD/MPP Separate application to Duke Sanford School of Public Policy
JD/MTS Separate application to Duke Divinity School

6: Prior Application

Complete this section in full. If you applied previously, please indicate the year(s) for which you applied for admission.

7: Standardized Tests

LSAT: Provide the dates you took or will take the LSAT. All applicants must take the LSAT no later than December 2011. LSAT scores earned prior to June 2006 will not be considered. Duke considers all LSAT scores that are submitted, in the context of the entire application (transcripts, personal statement, letters of recommendation, evidence of leadership and engagement, and other information). In the case of multiple test scores, data show that the average score is generally the most useful in predicting law school performance; however, we may place greater weight on a high score if the applicant provides compelling information about why that score is a better indication of his or her potential. If you feel that one or more of your test scores does not accurately reflect your ability or potential, explain this disparity in a separate attachment. Contact LSAC to request information about the LSAT at 215.968.1001 or LSAC.org. Duke does not waive the LSAT requirement.

Notify the Office of Admissions by e-mail if you plan to retake the LSAT after you have submitted the application. We will place a hold on your file so that it will not be evaluated until the new score is available. If you do not request to have your file held, the new score may not be considered.

TOEFL: If applicable, indicate the dates you took or will take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants must take the TOEFL if your first language is not English AND English is not the language of instruction at your undergraduate institution. Contact the Education Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the JD CAS is 8395. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included with in your LSAC CAS report. Applicant files that are missing the TOEFL score will be reviewed but may be disadvantaged. Foreign applicants with graduate degrees in the U.S. are not eligible for TOEFL waivers.

8: Educational History

You are required to provide information on your high school and all post secondary schools attended. Under Education History, list your high school, undergraduate degree granting institution, and the most recent graduate or professional school. Use the Additional Schools Attended addendum to list all other undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools attended.

9: Employment

Complete this section in full.

10: Military Service

Complete this section in full.

11: Family

Complete this section in full.

12: Character and Fitness

Duke Law requires a candidate to reveal knowledge of all criminal incidents or disciplinary charges, even if expunged, sealed, or otherwise removed from the candidate's records. When in doubt, you should err on the side of full disclosure, as subsequent discovery of a failure to fully and accurately answer these questions may have serious consequences. Failure to disclose information is often more significant than the act or event described in the questions. Failure to provide truthful answers, or failure to inform the Law School of any changes to your answers after submission of your application, may result in any of the following: misconduct investigation by the LSAC; revocation of admission; disciplinary action by the Law School; and/or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission. You have an ongoing obligation to report any conduct that would require you to answer yes to any of the questions in this section during the pendency of your application. If an offer of admission is extended to you, the obligation to report conduct applicable to the questions in this section continues until your first day of class at Duke Law School.

If you answer yes to any of the questions, you must submit the Character and Fitnexx attachment. Include details, the current status of any disciplinary action or judicial sanctions, and the final resolution of the issues involved. If you answer yes to the academic conduct question (#1), your dean, registrar, department supervisor, judicial officer, or academic officer with access to official records from your institution must submit a letter directly to the Office of Admissions that provides complete information about the incident.

13: Certification

Applications will not be processed without an electronic signature agreeing to the Conditions and certifying that the information is true and complete. You are obligated to notify the Office of Admissions immediately of any change in the information provided.

If you are applying for the binding Early Decision cycle, you must also check the Early Decision Certification checkbox.